SMEs AT THE HEART OF EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION
The new political mandate of the EU institutions, along with the ongoing evaluation of Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardisation and the calls for a stronger and more competitive Single Market of the Letta and Draghi reports, put SMEs and standardisation at a crossroads.
Understanding the importance of this moment, SBS publishes its “Manifesto for the 2024-2029 EU term – SMEs at the heart of European standardisation”.
The Manifesto opens with a timely reminder of the importance of standards as a cornerstone of the Single Market and as an indispensable tool to make EU policies operational and for SMEs to ensure conformity and compliance with national and European legislation.
The core of the Manifesto are 6 main calls for action, tackling all aspects of European standardisation, from the inclusiveness and robust funding of the system as a whole, to the importance for SMEs harmonised standards and the use of standards to fully harness the opportunities of the twin transition. The SBS calls for action are:
- Ensure a more inclusive standardisation system that makes the Single Market work better for everyone
- Secure robust funding for standardisation and SME participation and support European global leadership in standards
- Promote SME-friendly digital and sustainability standards, letting SMEs fully harness the opportunities of the twin transition
- Ensure the timely development and citation of harmonised standards, which are key for SME growth
- Invest in the uptake and implementation of standards by SMEs to help them thrive
- Fully implement Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardisation, rather than revising it
Each of the call for action is accompanied by targeted, concrete recommendations to achieve the listed goals, aimed at the European Commission and the co-legislators.
SBS will reiterate these crucial messages in all upcoming political activities and fora, from the High-Level Forum on European standardisation to the ongoing evaluation process of Regulation 1025/2012, to keep ensuring that the voice and interests of European SMEs in standardisation are upheld.
